PHNOM PENH: During a Friday, 11 November, meeting on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summits and Related Summits, Prime Minister Hun Sen thanked the Secretary-General of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Zhang Ming, for his coordination in favor of Cambodia’s bid to become an Observer of the SCO, and underlined the country's readiness to comply with the organization's recommendations to endeavor to reach this goal.

According to a press released issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Prime Minister Hun Sen and Secretary-General Zhang Ming discussed at length Cambodia’s application to become an SCO Observer after becoming a Dialogue Partner of this organization in 2015.

Cambodia has made notable contributions as a dialogue partner by promoting cooperation between ASEAN and SCO, said Prime Minister Hun Sen, underlining Cambodia's active engagement in different regional and international organizations with the aim of strengthening friendship and maintaining peace, stability and security.

While congratulating the government and people of Cambodia for the great positive changes over the last 10 years, Secretary-General Zhang Ming thanked Prime Minister Hun Sen for the invitation to attend the Related Summits and expressed his appreciation for Cambodia's ASEAN Chairmanship.

He further praised Cambodia for its active engagement in promoting ASEAN-SCO relations and highlighted the SCO's internal process in elevating a country from ‘Dialogue Partner’ to ‘Observe.’ He expressed his hope that Cambodia will become an SCO Observer.